La statuetta indiana da Pompei: nuove considerazioni per un approccio emico

A newly discovered ivory statuette from Pompeii, likely of Indian origin, challenges conventional understandings of Roman material culture. This rare artifact, found in 1938, raises questions about its iconography, provenance, and symbolic significance within Roman society. By drawing parallels with Ovid's Metamorphoses—particularly myths linking ivory to female prostitution—and Roman banquet customs, the study suggests that such objects were displayed not merely for aesthetic value but as conversation catalysts during elite gatherings. This emic approach shifts focus from artifact analysis alone to its social function and perceived meaning among Pompeiians, offering a nuanced interpretation of how exotic goods were integrated into daily life.

Ferrari, I. (2019). La statuetta indiana da Pompei: nuove considerazioni per un approccio emico. LANX. Rivista Della Scuola Di Specializzazione in Archeologia - Università Degli Studi Di Milano, N. 24 (2016). https://doi.org/10.13130/2035-4797/11206